And william kent



(No Model.)

A. SPRINGER & W. KENT.

GRAIN METER.

No. 365,874. Patented m 5, 1887.

Attes r.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED SPRINGER, OE CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND WILLIAM KENT, OF JERSEY CITY,NEW JERSEY.

GRAIN-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,874, dated July 5,1887.

Application filed November 16, 1886. Serial No. 218,992. (No model.)

'10 object being to providea simple, durable, and

efficient apparatus for automatically and accurately weighing graindelivered by gravity through a spout or conduit by a succession 'ofregistrable movements constituting a substanr tially continuousoperation.

To this end it consists in the apparatus here- I inafter fullydescribed, embodying as a leading principle of construction andoperation a series of rotating buckets, rotated by an overbalancingweight of grain delivered to a bucket at one side of the Vertical planeof the common axis, resisted in rotation by an adjustable force actingonly in a very limited arc of the rotation; also,embracing constructivefeatures whereby the durability, adj ustability, and ac curacy of theapparatus are secured, while preserving great simplicity. g In thedrawings herewith, illustrating our invention, Figure l is a sideelevation of a'pre- 3o ferred form of the apparatus complete; Fig. 2,

an end elevation; Fig. 3, aview of the reverse or bucket side of therevolving disk; Fig. 4., a detail of the radially-adjustable detent, andFig. 5 aview of a modified form of spring- 3 5 arm.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates a circular plate or disksecured upon an axle, a; B B, journal-bearings supporting the disk andaxle from a base-frame, B, and C C 40 grain-buckets secured at one sideof the disk Ain opposite radial positions. These parts constitute agrain-receiving apparatus arranged beneath asupply-spout, S,and,incombination with the further mechanism to be described,acts to receive apredetermined quantity of grain from the spout in one of thegrainbuckets C, the weight of which releases the holding mechanism androtates the wheel A, discharging the filled 'bucketinto a funnel, D,

below, and bringing the alternate bucket into position to receive grainfrom the spout.

The holding mechanism consists of an arm,

E, secured to and oscillating by means of a torsion-pivot, 0', arrangedas follows: As illustrated, the torsion-pivot consists of an endlessband, 6, of elastic metal held in tension in anapproXimately-rectangular path around a frame, E, upheld from a slidingbaseplate, F, by a supporting-frame, F, the sliding base-plate F beingheld adj ustably in a guideframe, G, mounted upon the common base B. Thetorsion-frame E is an approximately-rectangular plate with one or bothsides partially recessed to admit the free attachment and oscillation ofthe arm E. Separate end pieces, 6

.6, are interposed between the main frame E and the band-pivot e, whichmay be set out by wedges driven in to tension the metallic strip. At itsfree end the arm E engages upon a stud, d, projecting at the side of thediskA, o adjustable to or from the center in a radial slot, at.

The preferred construction and adjustable mounting of the stud d isindicated in Fig. 4, in which the slotis shown countersunk at the rearof the disk, and provided with a holding-block, dfiin which is seated ascrew,d ,passed through a flange of the stud (2, thus forming a clamp.By loosening the screw the parts may be moved in the slot, and securedby tightening s the screw. We prefer, also, to place upon the end of thearm E a removable tip, 6, which, with the stud d, may be formed of steelor gun-metal, in order to present accurate and durable surfaces andedges at the contacts, and, 8 admit of replacement when worn by use. Thetip e" may also have a limited adjustment upon the arm E,to provide foraccuracy in the general adjustment of the apparatus. As thusconstructed, the general rotation of the disk 0 is in the directionindicated by the arrow. and the weight of grain in the upper bucket Ccauses an upward pressure of the stud (1 against the arm E, opposed bythe torsional resistance of the pivot e, which resistance increases in 5direct and regular proportion to the degree of oscillation of the arm E.The stud d and tip e" are positioned to allow the former to pass by thelatter only at or beyond a certain "predetermined limit of oscillationof the arm E, which involves a measurable resistance of the pivot c.This measure determines the weight of grain required in theoverbalan'cingbucket exclusive of friction, which latter element is inthis case practically eliminated by the time and other conditions ofthemovement, or is so far reduced and rendered uniform as to makeallowance therefor entirely practicable. The adjustability of the baseF, in its containingframe G, is toward and from the axis of the wheel,and as the stud (Z is adjustable in the sameline it will be seen that,by the ordinary principles of leverage, a wide range of adj ustment isobtainable in dealing with measures of grain.

As already indicated, the general function of the apparatus is effectedby the stream of grain from the spout S filling the upper bucket O,which, overbalaueing the resistance at the stud cl against thedetainingarm, oscillates the latter and allows the disk A to rotate. Inthe present illustration but two buckets O are shown, occupying oppositeradial positions. A duplicate slot, (1, and adjustable stud d areprovided, in position radially opposite the first, whereby, as the firstbucket falls and the second bucket is correspondingly elevated, therotation of the wheel is arrested at the proper point by engagement ofthe second stud d against the detainingarm, while the grain isdischarged from the filled bucket into the funnel D below; but upon thesame principles of arrangement three, four, or more buckets may bearranged upon the disk.

To prevent waste of grain during the rotation of the disk, we pivot awing-valve, c, in the spout above, controlled by a crank-arm, b,extending downward at the side of the disk A. We place afriction'roller, 9', at the lower end of the arm I), and arrange at theside of the disk two cam-plates, c, suitably formed and positioned toengage and lift the arm I) at the proper time to the required height. Asthe disk A rotates, the cam-plates c are carried beyond the limit ofengagement and allow the arm to drop down against a stop, 8, and closethe valve. A weight, w, may be adjustably arranged upon the arm I) toregulate the force of the movement, as desired. By this arrangement thedisk A is relieved of all friction from this source during the rotationin the intervals of engagement of the studs (1 with the arm E.

In order to prevent the backlash of the wheel through its momentum infirst encountering the resistance of the arm E in the successiveimpulses of rotation, we place upon the axle a a ratchet-wheel, a, andprovide a pivoted engaging-pawl, 19, upon the journalbearing support.\Ve also attach to the arm E in the axial plane of the torsion-pivot avertical standard, a", at right angles to the arm and rigid therewith,and upon the same attach a weight, w, adjustablevertically, for thepurpose of regulating and controlling the resisting force of thetorsion-pivot e, as desired, by the overbalancing effect of its staticalmoment when deflected from a vertical position.

Any suitable form of registering apparatus may be employed, by which thenumber of complete rotations or half rotations of the disk may berecorded, and an indication thus afforded of the quantity of grainreceived and discharged by the apparatus. This we have omitted in thedrawings, as it forms no part of our invention.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a flexion'spriug, I, as a substitute for therigid arm E and It s torsion-piv0t e. \Vhere such is used, ahorizontalarm, i, secured adj ustably in the holding-abutment II of thefleXion-spring and earrying a screw stop, 1', bearing ad ustably againstthe upper surface ofthe flexio n-sprmg, may be added to regulate theresisting force, and the abutment I-I may be mounted upon the slidingbase F, all other adjustments remaining the same. In either case thebase If" may be provided with setscrews f, to retain it in ultimatepositions.

In the present invention we do not limit ourselves to the use of aspring, whether torsion or flexion, constituting or in connectlon withthe arm E, since a pivoted arm provided with a weight or other elementresisting its oscillation will attain the same result in degree. WVebelieve the rigid arm with torsionpivot to be preferable, however,because of the more uniform continuance and accurate measurability ofthe resisting force thus produced, this being essential to the accurateresults desired in apparatus of this character.

\Ve claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States- 1. The combination, in an automatic grainmeter, of apivoted disk or frame carrying receiving-buckets and rotated by the gramdelivered successively to said buckets, a projecting stud radiallyadjustable upon said disk or frame, and an engaging resistingarmOSOIllating from an independent center or holding-.

axis adjustable toward and from the axis of the rotating disk or frame,substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic grain-meter, the combination of a rotating disk orframe carrying grain-buckets, a radially-adjustable stop or detent uponsaid disk or frame, a torsion-pivot mounted upon an independentsupportingframe adjustable toward and from the diskaXis, a rigid armattached at one end to said torsionpivot and at the other engaging saidstop or detent by contact, and a regulatingweight carried in thevertical plane of said arm above its torsion-pivot and oscillatingtherewith, substantially as set forth.

3. The improved grain-meter embodying, in combination, a rotating diskor frame, A, radially-disposed.buckets 0, adjustable stops (1,oscillating arm E, torsion-pivot e, and adjustable supporting-frame E F,substantially as set forth.

4. In an automatic grain-meter having a 1'0- tating disk or framecarrying buckets, an engagingstop, and an oscillating resisting-armengaging said stop, and a torsion strip or pivot, c, for said arm, incombination with a contain- IIC ing-frame, E, arranged to carry thepivot in tension equalized aroundsaid frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic grain-meter of the character described, having aradially-adj nstabler engaging-stop, d, the arm E, torsionpivot e, andframe EF F, in combination with the fixed gnideframe G, substantially asset forth.

6. In anautomatic grain-meter of the character described, thecombination of the rotating disk or frame A, carrying buckets, thespring resisting-arm E, and detent d, with the ratchet a and pawl 12,arranged to arrest the recoil of the disk or frame, substantially as setforth.

7. In a grain-meter of the character described, in combination with therevolving disk A, detent d, and spring resisting-arm E, the removabletip 6 substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED SPRINGER. WILLIAM KENT.

, Witnesses for Alfred Springer:

L. M. HOSEA, O. D. KERR. Witnesses for William Kent:

LEONARD J. LANGBEIN, GEORGE F. LANGBEIN.

